It’s a good letter, and I’m glad it’s generating some attention, but I’m not optimistic about its success.
Senate Democrats are urging President Bush to consult with them on a possible Supreme Court nomination to help avoid the kind of controversy that engulfed his lower court picks.
“The way to avoid the divisiveness and discord that occurred over past judicial nominations is through consensus and cooperation in the selection of future candidates,” the Senate Democrats said in a letter sent to the White House on Thursday. […]
The letter, signed by 43 of 44 Democrats and independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, called bipartisan cooperation “the best path to a fair and reasoned confirmation process.” The Democrat who did not sign, senior Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, “agrees with the thrust and the concept of our letter but felt so strongly about the issue he is sending his own letter,” Schumer said.
Upon receiving the letter, Andy Card called an impromptu meeting in the Roosevelt Room with Karl Rove and Dan Bartlett where they passed the letter around. “Can you believe it?” Card asked, struggling to speak while in hysterics. “The Democrats expect us to consult with them! About a Supreme Court nominee! To make the process less divisive and contentious!”
The laughter could be heard outside the building.
(Note: The description of the Roosevelt Room meeting is a dramatic interpretation for the purposes of humor. It probably didn’t happen this way. The laughter was probably only audible throughout the West Wing.)